Dan Carson

Op-ed | Carson Says New Budget Report Reveals Growing Infrastructure Funding Crisis

By Dan CarsonMay 30, 2026

A recent City of Davis staff report has identified a projected $60.7 million deficit in pavement maintenance funding over the forthcoming decade. This fiscal shortfall is primarily attributed to escalating expenditures on employee salaries and benefits, notwithstanding the recent voter approval of a significant tax increase. Consequently, calls have emerged for the City Council to initiate renegotiations of existing labor agreements to mitigate the identified budgetary imbalance.

Op-ed | Davis City Council Urged to Reconsider Costly Fire Station in Housing Plan

By Dan CarsonOctober 20, 2025

The City of Davis needs additional housing, but the proposed Village Farms project includes a fourth fire station and a downpayment assistance program that could add to the city’s deficit spending and not benefit low-income residents, so the commission should recommend that the fire station proposal be dropped and the downpayment assistance program be either dropped or administered by a private entity.

Op-ed | A Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

By Elaine Roberts MusserOctober 6, 2025

The City of Davis has been criticized for prioritizing repairs to Village Homes inner streets over major arterials, while the City Council has been accused of neglecting basic city infrastructure and failing to address the poor pavement conditions, which could lead to costly lawsuits.